Seized horses on the mend; farm operator faces animal cruelty charges

Nearly a month after being seized from the Norcrest/Middle Creek Farm in Troupsburg, N.Y., all 78 horses are still alive and recovering at barns across New York state.

Lynn Brennan

Nearly a month after being seized from the Norcrest/Middle Creek Farm in Troupsburg, N.Y., all 78 horses are still alive and recovering at barns across New York state.

According to a news release from the Finger Lakes SPCA, Geraldine Trupia, operator of the breeding farm at 4512 County Route 82, Troupsburg, was arraigned Wednesday morning in Troupsburg Town Court on charges that she neglected 85 horses in her care.

She was charged with five counts of animal cruelty or failure to provide adequate food, water and medical treatment for the animals.

Trupia will appear in Troupsburg Town Court on Oct. 1. The owner of the farm is Trupia’s mother, Mary Ann Blazejewski.

It has been previously reported that 82 horses were seized by the SCPA?from the farm, four of which had to be euthanized on the scene. One horse was dead on arrival, according to a Fingerlakes SPCA press release. There are two horses that have not been accounted for. Calls to the Finger Lakes SPCA were not immediately returned this morning.

Each of the charges against Trupia, all class A misdemeanors, is punishable by up to one year in jail. The charges were limited to five because state law prohibits jail terms of more than two years for related misdemeanor convictions.

The investigation is continuing and other charges are possible against Trupia, and others may also be charged as a result of the investigation.

According to Wendy Recktenwald, chief executive officer of the Hornell Humane Society, volunteers and officials involved have to keep tight-lipped about what they saw at the Troupsburg farm over those two days.

“I don’t want to do or say anything to jeopardize the investigation,” she said.

Eight of the horses removed from Trupia’s farm were taken to the Alfred State College Pioneer Farm, where they are being nursed back to health under the director of Vicki Bolton, department chair of the animal science program at ASC.

“These students are getting to see and treat things they have seen in class,” said Bolton, explaining that she will lecture on a subject, then go out to the barn and see what they just learned about.

According to Bolton, the seized horses were suffering from malnourishment, rain rot, thrush, parasites, eye problems, a lack of farrier care and open wounds.

“We just spent the last month getting their strength up so we can deal with these issues,” said Jen Kuhn, ASC’s Pioneer Farm manager.

“These horses were on the brink of death when they came here,” Recktenwald said.

Many of the horses at the farm have gained 75-100 pounds since their arrival. The horses are going through a ton of hay a week.

“The pastures (at the Troupsburg farm) looked green but there wasn’t anything for the horses to eat,” Bolton said, adding that the pastures were primarily made of buttercup, which is not nourishing and can cause blisters on the horses’ noses.

Recktenwald said she is very impressed by the effort and compassion put forth by volunteers to improve the lives of the animals. She said that 35 volunteers arrived at the Troupsburg farm to remove horses on Aug. 29-30.

“(ASC) students came dressed in blue coveralls, unasked, ready to work on both days,” said Recktenwald.

“They came back the next day,” said Bolton. “They couldn’t turn their backs on those horses."

Recktenwald told the story of a chestnut stallion nicknamed “Big Red” that was seized by the SPCA and in in dire need of immediate medical attention. A call was placed to the Cornell University Veterinary Hospital but volunteers were told the university was not accepting any charity cases.

One of the volunteers donated $1,000 and a trailer to get him in the door at Cornell. “Big Red” had surgery to remove an eye and is now in foster care in Allegany County.

The Animal Welfare Institute is currently paying for the feed and medical care for the eight horses being housed at ASC, as well as Kuhn’s salary.

“At the end of the day, we just hope we’ve made an impact on the lives of these horses,” said Recktenwald.

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